OntheCultivationinSelf—efficacyofStudentswithEnglishLearningDisabilities

韓婷

1.Introduction

Self-efficacy as a central concept proposed by Bandura Albert in 1977 is an important cognitive mechanism influencing learning and behavior change.He deems that students self-efficacy has significant effects on their achievements （Bandura，translation，2003） that is verified by lots of researchers （Schunk，1983）.So we try to study how to improve the self-efficacy of secondary students with learning disabilities in order to help them.

2 .Literature Review

This part will bring some research theories on students with English learning disabilities and self-efficacy together to see what the researchers have done beforehand and the viewpoints which can benefit the thesis.

2.1 The Definition of Students with Learning Disabilities

Students with English learning disabilities refer to the students who have average intelligence but may have difficulties acquiring and demonstrating knowledge and understanding.Learning disabilities are problems that affect the brain's ability to receive，process，analyze，or store information.These problems can make it difficult for a student to learn as quickly as someone who isn't affected by learning disabilities （Walker，R 2003）.Some kinds of learning disabilities can interfere with a person's ability to concentrate or focus and can cause someone's mind to wander too much.Other learning disabilities can make it difficult for a student to read，write，spell and so on.These students with learning disabilities can be taught effective learning strategies that will help them approach tasks more effectively （Thomas Lombardi，2005）.

2.2 The Source of the Self-efficacy

The term “self-efficacy”，which is presented as a cognitive concept by Bandura in 1977，refers to beliefs about ones organize and implement actions in task specific situations （Schunk，1983）.Banduras social learning theory emphasizes the reciprocal causal relations between environmental，behavioral，and personal factors （Norwich，1987）.

According to Bandura，the four sources of self-efficacy are： actively master experience as a capacity indicator，substitute experience of verifying efficacy beliefs through comparing achievement with others or ability passing，verbal persuasion which can make oneself know he has some ability or similar social influence，physical and emotional state using to judge one selfs ability，power and so on.In all of them，actively master experience as a capacity indicator is the most important origin.

2.3 The Influence Elements of Self-efficacy of Students with Learning Disabilities

Bandura assumes that a persons self-efficacy expectation concerning the ability to successfully perform a given task is a reliable predictor of whether the person will attempt the task，how much effort he or she spend，and how much the person will persevere in pursuing the task in the facing of foreseen difficulties.Also，a persons perceived self-efficacy influences and is in turn affected by cognitive styles and preference，arousal，and task performance outcome （Gaskill，P.J.& Murphy，P.K.，2004）.But self-efficacy does not simply “cause” subsequent behavior.Rather，it affects behavior by influencing the choices people make，the effort they expend，the perseverance they exert in the face of challenges and difficulties，and their thought patterns and emotional reactions （Pajares & Johnson，1994）.

3.Conclusion

It verifies our hypothesis that there is significant correlation between self-efficacy and learning strategies in learning English.It appears that one way to enhance self-efficacy of students with English learning disabilities is to promote self-regulated learning through instruction of learning strategies in their learning.

There are some limitations to this study.First，the study should be replicated using a larger sample chosen from different part of various areas so as to obtain more accurate and even result and the sample also should be divided more evenly by gender.Second，we make up this questionnaire of self-efficacy based on teachers self-efficacy，which has difference from students，so it is better to be adjusted for later use and the scales of the degree also need making more exact.

And there is a suggestion for further research.Its not within the scope of this investigation to outline the ways that English learning strategies can be trained.Instead this thesis can be an angle of the iceberg to show how important self-efficacy and strategies in learning English.This further enlightens us to explore the ways as to how to improve students strategies.

In a word，only when the self-efficacy of students with English learning disabilities is being highly waken up，would they be their own domination.Whatever facing learning or something else and whatever the present or the future，they will be full of confidence.